Musician tricked into anti-piracy video campaign

Frenzal Rhomb guitarist claims he was 'duped' into taking part

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Lindsay McDougall

Lindsay McDougall, guitarist with Australian punk rockers Frenzal Rhomb and radio presenter at Triple J, was only too happy to appear in a video about ‘trying to survive as an Australian musician´. What McDougall claims he didn´t realise was that the 10-minute film was actually part of an anti-piracy campaign to be distributed for free to every high school in Australia.

The film was partly coordinated by the music industry's anti-piracy arm; Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI), which is pushing for the short to be included in school classes related to copyright and file sharing. Other interviewees include some of Australia´s biggest musical acts: Jimmy Barnes, Silverchair, Powderfinger and Operator Please were all present and according to MIPI´s general manager Sabiene Heindl, were all happy to be there.

McDougall had this to say: "I have never come out against internet piracy and illegal downloading and I wouldn't do that - I would never put my name to something that is against downloading and is against piracy and stuff, it's something that I believe is a personal thing from artist to artist."

"I would never be part of this big record industry funded campaign to crush illegal downloads, I'm not like Lars Ulrich. I think it's bullshit, I think it's record companies crying poor and I don't agree with it."